by J. L. Drake
“Kenny,” I grabbed his head, “look at me. I’m here, right here by your side.”
His eyes darted as he searched his brain until he made our connection.
“Mom?” His chest heaved while he looked around. “They tried to kill me.”
“No,” I kept my eyes locked on his, “they need to give you your medicine so you can get better. Don’t you want to go outside soon and play lacrosse?” I pointed outside to where the sun was hovering over the mountains. “The only way you can get out of here is if you listen to Dr. Evans and do as the nurses say.”
His grip on my arms soon relaxed and he leaned back to stare at the ceiling like he normally did when he knew I was right.
Dr. Evans gave me an annoyed look as he pushed the needle into the IV. I didn’t stick around to find out why.
I burst through the rooftop doors in need of fresh air. When my hands landed on the cool metal railing, I let out the loudest scream I could muster. It just wasn’t fair! I didn’t know how much longer I could handle this. I closed my eyes and thought of her sweet face.
“I miss you so much, Kiley.”
***
I was pleased I was able to get a window seat. My earphones were on immediately so I could tune the world out. Hozier found my stress and helped calm me.
My phone vibrated on my lap.
Mom: What is your flight number?
Mia: I had to fly into ND. AA768
Mom: Travel safe. Xo
Once we touched down, I grabbed my luggage and hurried to the doors.
“Mia!” Mom shouted with arms wide open. I raced toward her and nearly knocked her over. “Oh, sweetie, you look so good!”
“Hi, Mom.” I buried my head into her hair and smelled the comfort I longed for.
She pulled back to look at me. “Are you all right?”
No, but I wasn’t about to dampen our mood.
I linked my arm through hers. “Yes, just tired. Let’s get out of here.”
Home was exactly how I remembered it, wide open with a sea salt breeze. The last time we all met up, we were at our cottage in New York, and before that, it was Arizona.
I opened the patio doors and leaned over the rail. The ocean sparkled, reminding me how much I missed it.
“Mia,” Mom called from my doorway, “you want to go for a walk or grab something to eat?”
“Where’s Dad?”
Her face fell slightly. “He hopes to be back Sunday.”
Of course. Probably for the best anyway.
“A walk sounds nice.”
Following our footprints back to the house a while later, we decided to sit for a bit. We caught up on everyone, and I learned my cousin Gab married one of my best friends in high school. That wasn’t surprising, considering he had a lifelong crush on the girl.
“So,” Mom’s shoulder bumped mine, “when were you going to tell us that you took the job in North Dakota?”
I ducked my head. “How long have you known?”
“I wanted to send you flowers, and when I called the hospital’s flower shop, they said no one by that name worked there. So, after some more calls, I heard my only daughter failed to mention she took the other offer.”
“I’m sorry for lying, Mom, but I had to take that job.”
She shrugged. “I guess. I’m just worried. Either way, it’s not going to end well.”
“I know that.” My toes buried further into the sand. “It’s just something I need to do.”
“You’re not his mother, Mia.”
“But I’m all he’s got. I might as well be. Mom, you’re like his grandmother. You could visit him sometime.”
Mom cleared her throat. “He doesn’t know me anymore.”
I dismissed her comment. I knew Kenny’s condition hurt everyone, but that didn’t mean we should give up on him.
“Maybe not, but I bring him comfort.” I blinked the tears back. “Besides, it looks like it may only be a matter of weeks.”
Mom reached out and took my hand. “Life can be unfair a lot of the time.”
“Does Dad know I took the job?”
“No, I figured you would tell us when you were ready.”
I leaned my head on her shoulder. “Thanks.”
We spent the rest of the day relaxing and catching up. I used to be very close to my parents, but once I decided to go to nursing school, my father didn’t understand why I didn’t want to become a doctor. There were a few things my father and I didn’t see eye to eye on.
“You’ve been checking your phone a lot,” Mom observed as she set the salmon on the table. I dove into her famous garden salad from her greenhouse. “You waiting on a call?” I poured some wine, which made her laugh. “Oh, a boy?”
My grin grew bigger. “Boy?”
“Sorry…man.”
“No. I mean, I did meet someone, but it’s nothing.”
“Ha!” She raised an eyebrow. “You think you’re going to get away with that? Spill it, lady.”
“Okay, okay. He’s nice, sweet, his smile makes me blush on the spot.” My hair fell forward as I shook my head. “He almost let me win at pool.” Mom laughed. “He just makes me feel good, you know? Like I don’t have to try, and everything just comes naturally.”
“Wow, sweetie, that’s pretty special.”
“Yeah, it kinda is, but his job makes him come and go a lot. So I’m not sure how easy it will be, if there is even a will left.”
“Why do you say that? Did something happen?”
“It’s been a month since I’ve seen him.”
“A month? What does he do?”
Umm…
I reached for the ranch dressing, but she moved it out of my reach.
“Mia?”
“Military.” Her face didn’t fall, but it didn’t light up either. “I know, Mom, please spare me the military life advice. But…”
“No, sweetie,” she touched my hand, “you’re misreading my reaction. I think I’m more processing the fact that you let someone in. After what you went through with—”
“I know. I didn’t think I would ever be interested in someone like that again. It’s just Mark, is—”
“Ohhh, one syllable.” She winked.
“Oh, God, no, not the bedroom talk again.” I smacked my head, laughing. My mother could give a bit too much detail when it came to her sex life. I hated that my father had a one syllable name.
“I’m only saying it’s easy to scream—”
“La-la-la…” I covered my ears like a child. “Mom, please, we have a delicious meal here. Let me keep it down, okay?”
“Fine.” She sipped her wine. “So what does he look like?”
I hated that my face gave so much away. “He’s tall, brown hair, perfect teeth, a body that could put any trainer to shame.”
Mom started to fan herself. “Sweet Lord in heaven, my lady bits are on high alert.”
“Yeah, mine too,” I muttered into my glass.
“So,” Mom said, changing the subject, “have you spoken to your brother much?”
I set my fork down. My brother and I were like oil and water. “Nope.”
“Mia, he’s been back for three weeks. You should give him a call.”
“Phone works both ways, Mom.” Nice to know he survived Afghanistan.
“He hurt his back, so they sent him home early.”
I poked at a peppercorn. “Lucky break.” My brother Ray was ten times worse than my father with his views on things. We hadn’t gotten along since we were ten.
The trip was amazing. I really needed more one on one with my mother. It bothered me that she was there so often on her own. Dad worked entirely too much, but in fairness to him, he did warn her before they got married.
My return flight was on time and landed in North Dakota at four thirty a.m., which gave me exactly two and half hours before I started my shift.
Bed called my name, but I had to trudge on back, shower, change, and head to the hospital before I could even
think of letting my mind turn off.
***
“Mia.” My head bounced off something hard. “Mia, you need to wake up.” My eyes opened to Molly. “Dr. Evans is looking for you.”
My surroundings kicked in, and I swiftly moved to my feet off the bench in the ER.
“Okay.” My head pleaded with me to go back to sleep, but I declined, not wanting to lose my job. I switched to autopilot, knowing I had to get to work.
“He’s been paging you for, like, ten minutes.” She looked annoyed.
She moved when I did and stayed close as I headed to the station.
“You’re getting a bit of a reputation around here, Mia.”
“What?” I mumbled over my shoulder. “For what?”
“For flirting with the patients.”
I shook my head, not even sure I heard her right. She continued on my heels, huffing at every corner.
“And…that you screw in the on call room…” My heels drove into the squeaky floor, and I spun around. As soon as she saw my face, her hand slapped over her mouth. “Oh, Mia,” she squeaked, “I’m sorry.”
“Wow.” I threaded my fingers through the top of my hair and balled it in my palm. I was way beyond pissed, but I kept my composure. With a step toward her, I whispered, “Mark and I never slept together.” Nice to know the staff thought we did. I swore I heard her sigh with relief. “Not that it’s anyone’s business who I sleep with.”
She gave a slight nod, but I didn’t trust her, which felt pretty shitty. I liked Molly.
I thought I should leave in case she had anything else to say, and if that was the case, I might toss a punch, and there went my career. Wow, that would be two times in one day. Evans and Molly. Fate was testing me big time.
Avoiding a pissed off doctor in a hospital was like avoiding an elephant in a tiny room. It ain’t going to last long.
I felt like a complete fool in front of the staff, and every time I saw a white coat, I ducked to avoid meeting Dr. Evans. Once when I thought I heard his voice in the cafeteria, I ran out into the hall like an idiot.
It wasn’t until I was walking out the door that I came face to face with the doctor.
“Mia. Where have you been?”
I shifted my bag over my shoulder. “Rounds, and helping out at the ER.”
“We had a heart transplant, and I wanted you to be there.”
So…you weren’t upset that I fell asleep at work?
“Oh, wow.”
“Yeah,” he shrugged, “I know how much you wanted to be a part of one and…anyway.”
“I’m sorry, I just…”
He checked his phone. “Well, Mia, I have to go. My sister and I have dinner plans.”
“Yeah, yes, of course.” I stepped back, not sure what to do with myself. That was so unlike his usual behavior. “Ahh,” I decided to go for his first name, “Francis.” He turned to look at me. “Thanks.”
With tight smile, he nodded and hurried on his way. I contemplated his behavior the whole way home. Dr. Evans had always been flirty and seemed to have no boundaries when it came to my personal life choices. However, this was an odd side of him; this was different. I wouldn’t go any further.
I felt a lot better after a ten-hour nap, a hot shower, and a decent meal. I curled up on my couch with Butters, and we watched Homeland until my phone vibrated next to me.
Dr. Evans: Will I see you today? Or will you hide away in the ER again?
“I didn’t know we texted each other,” I grumbled, not sure what to think.
Mia: I think you’ll see me.
Dr. Evans: Good.
“Good,” I repeated confidently. “What the hell does that mean?”
CHAPTER FOUR
My coffee warmed my hand as I walked up the hospital steps. The bite in the air was the first sign of fall. It was my favorite time because it meant holidays¸ and that meant wine, meals, and pie. No matter what moron didn’t bring the mashed potatoes or carrots, there was always pie.
“Someone brought bagels.” Vikki Taylor pointed to the room. Before I could nab one, Dr. Evans stepped in my way.
“Good morning. You almost missed out.” He held up an extra bagel. I started to reach for it, but he pulled it back. “Will you answer your pages?”
I crossed my arms. “Yes.”
“Okay.” He handed it to me.
“Okay?”
“Yeah, okay.”
“Okay…”
“You already said that.”
I rolled my eyes but raised the warm pastry in the air in thanks.
***
That was how the next two days went—he was friendly and always around.
I pushed open the door and plastered a warm smile on my face.
“Hey, Kenny.” I rubbed his wrist gently. “How do you feel?”
“Hurt.” His tongue ran along his pale lips. “I saw Dad today. He said he missed you.”
“Yeah? That’s nice.”
His gaze darted around the room. “Mom?”
“Yes, Kenny?”
“I need to close my eyes.”
“Of course.” I tugged the blanket up to his chin and slipped outside. I pushed away the heavy cloud that hung low over that room.
“You okay?” Dr. Evans asked from the opposite wall, his hands in his pockets and a worried expression on his face.
“Yeah.”
“Okay, do you want to assist with a fractured patella at two-thirty?”
“Count me in.”
“OR Four, don’t be late.”
Nurse Alvin raced to my side with his palm up and his other fist in the center.
“On three, for room 33.”
“Clever.” I glanced over his shoulder.
“Stats?”
“Hot, eyes for days, huge boobs, and one of them burst. It’s like American Horror Story up in there.”
“I’m picking scissors.” Sarcasm dripped from my tongue.
He grinned. “I thought you’d be my favorite. I guess I was right.”
And I thought you were gay, so we’ll call it even.
I turned around and came to a halt. There was Mark on his phone. He looked over and found me instantly. I gave a wave, then I felt strange. What happened if he didn’t like me anymore? I hadn’t heard from him much.
Removing the first chart I could get my hands on, I moved into that room.
“What is going on today?” I quickly scanned his chart, and just as I saw the little red dot that indicated who he was, the door opened behind me.
“Paul is fine,” Mark announced behind me.
“All right.”
“Mia, can we—?”
Paul looked at me, then at Mark. “Fell out of the Land Rover, dislocated my shoulder, and I fucked up my spine.”
“All right, let me get your vitals before we start anything else.”
Threading the cuff up over his huge arm, I secured it in place. “Lord, sweetheart, your hands are freezing,” Paul said with a laugh.
“Sorry, I can hardly ever get warm.”
“Lucky.”
“Not when you live where there’s snow. I seem to be a lost cause.”
I listened and recorded his blood pressure. “What’s your pain level on a scale of one to ten?”
“One point five.”
“He’s fine,” Mark huffed again as he went to Paul’s side and grabbed his shoulder and arm. “Take a deep breath.”
“Mark!” I gasped, panicked.
Jerking Paul’s elbow up with a twist, he snapped his shoulder back into place. I cupped my mouth and waited for his reaction.
“Thanks, man.” Paul leaned back and sighed before looking at me. “I’m better now.”
“Um…” I was lost for words. “You could have damaged his spine further, Mark!”
“No, that was a fib.” Paul grinned. “My boy, here, has been trying to get us hurt so he had an excuse to see you.”
Oh? Don’t grin, don’t grin.
“Thanks, man,
” Mark muttered.
“Sure thing.” Paul settled into the bed. “Can I get some of that green Jell-O? You know, in the little cup with the mini spoon.” He mimed eating. “It’s my favorite.”
I was still stunned. “I’m going to go find the doctor.”
***
Mark
Paul pointed after Mia, and I ran out after her.
“Hey,” I caught her arm, “what’s wrong?” She started to say something but stopped herself. “What?”
“How have you been?” Her voice didn’t match her face.
“Busy, stressed. You?”
She looked around as if she didn’t want to be seen talking with me. “Same.”
“Will you have dinner with me tonight?”
Her gaze shot to mine. “Umm, I have plans.”
“Oh.” My stomach dropped. “Can you cancel them?”
“Mark, I didn’t know when I’d see you next, so no, I can’t.”
“I guess I deserved that.”
“Did you get my text?”
Shit, she did text me a few days ago, but I forgot to respond. “Yeah, but I’ve been dealing with something kinda—”
She stepped back a pace. “I get it. Secret op stuff. Anyway, I need to grab the doctor.”
Molly walked by. “Hey, Mark.” She beamed up at me. “You’re looking bigger than the last time I saw you.”
Mia turned and started walking away.
“Wait.” I brushed by Molly. “Wait, are you mad at me for not calling?”
Mia let out a deep sigh while she flipped her long, shiny hair out of her face.
“Look, Mark, trust me when I tell you I understand your job needs to be hush-hush. I can’t even imagine what your life must be like.” She lowered her voice so Molly couldn’t hear. “You tell me you like me, but I barely heard from you. I guess I thought maybe you moved on.”
“No, God, no.” I started to take a step toward her, but she moved back with a glance at Molly watching us from the nurse’s station. “I’m sorry. I’m dealing with something personal.”
“Mia?” Dr. Evans came up holding a chart. When he caught sight of me, his eyebrows pinched together. “Mark, I wasn’t aware you were back at the hospital.”
